Only this morning did I get the word from my second to none fite-site Drill
Instructor Elisa Harrison - as tough a call that it is, I’m expected to pick the
outcome of this Saturday’s Morales-Pacquiao shootout.
Resulted in a flashback to another time, and were it asked, would have been a
much easier prediction than this Erik "The Terrible" vs. Manny "Pac-Man"
confrontation.
Was late November of 1950, at the frozen tundra of Hagaru-ri at the Chosin
reservoir, and out of the dark nite the sound of music. And for sure it wasn’t
Satchmo blowing out a hit tune, but countless scores of Chinese Volunteers
arriving to the background of bugle calls.
The volunteers from across the Yalu had the bigger numbers - but our 1st Marine
Regiment not only had the legendary Col. Lewis B. Puller a.k.a. "Chesty" Puller
at the helm, but the pride and tradition of the Corps going for us.
And the call from my not so neutral corner woulda been piece of cake- as long as
we had ammo to lock-n-load and fire at them inviting targets - and so it was,
once given the word to move out, we left a playing field littered with mucho
Chinese cadavers.
But this PPV offering is a whole different ball game … not a single logical clue
to lean on. Both carry sleep inducing power … Morales in the big right hand and
Pac-Man in the left mitten.
Neither have shown a hint of the sweet science of stick and move, nor hit and
not be hit in style. The Pacquiao method is as basic as it gets … the opening
bell is a cannon that fires him directly at the target in the other corner.
Results have been fine as wine as indicated by the young port side banger with
some 30 odd KO’s on the resumé.
And Morales as well, with a reported equally valid 34 scalps that translate this
one to be something of a who gets there first scenario.
The pick here is Pacquiao - speed with power gets my call. Could be a quickie,
but the guess is decision win.
PS: Final food for thought for whatever it’s worth. These nagging recalls from
Morales- Barrera 3 loss and Pac Man-Marquez draw. Morales post-fite quotes
ranged from "Bum decision" to "I fought with bad right hand from round two on" …
Pacquiao quote concerned severe blisters because of wearing the wrong socks into
combat. Hope both show for this one wearing finely fitted "Foul proof Taylor"
leather harnessed metal protective cups inside them jock straps.
